Recently, the Year of Culture of Turkmenistan was celebrated in Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China. A group consisting of the chamber orchestra of the Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory, as well as teachers, students, and honored artists affiliated with the conservatory, took part in this cultural event.

The festive events within the framework of the Year of Culture were held from June 4 to 7, and a concert was organized in honor of the closing ceremony. The concert program featured a performance by a chamber orchestra ensemble led by senior instructor of the “Stringed Musical Instruments” department at the Faculty of Orchestral Musical Instruments of the Turkmen National Conservatory — Tahyr Atayev.

Alongside the orchestra, distinguished figures of Turkmen art took the stage: senior lecturers, “Reputable Elder of People of Turkmenistan”, Professor Atageldi Garyagdyyev; People’s Artists of Turkmenistan — vocalist Atajan Berdyev and bagshy Almagul Nazarova; as well as “Merited Figures of Arts of Turkmenistan” — Amangeldi Amanov, Gozel Annadjanova, and dutarist Aygul Yagshyyewa. The concert began with the performance of a piece titled “Festive Overture” composed by master composer Aman Agajikov, performed by the chamber orchestra.

During the concert, accompanied by the same chamber orchestra, dutarist-instructor Aygul Yagshyyewa virtuously performed several musical excerpts from the well-known film “Shukur Bagshy”.
She then performed a duet with singer Gozel Annajanova — the song of “Karkara” from the film “Mysteries of the Mukam”. Afterwards, Aygul Yagshyyewa skillfully performed the Turkmen folk composition “Durdy Bagshy”.

Next, honored vocalists gave performances at this grand concert. Amangeldi Amanov delivered with great mastery the song “Turkmenistan Lalezar” composed by Nury Muhadov, the “Wedding Song” written by Chary Nurymov to the lyrics of Ata Atajanov, as well as the aria of “Shabeled” from the opera “Shasenem and Garib” by Danatar Ovezov.

After,  master singer Atageldi Garyagdyyev presented several pieces: “Ashgabat” by famed composer Nury Halmammedov, “Uyat Eyleyir” based on the words of wise poet Magtymguly Pyragy, and the aria of “Ezberkhoja” from the opera “Shasenem and Garib”, written by Danatar Ovezov in collaboration with Yuliy Meitus.

These songs and arias were met with well-deserved loud applause from the concert audience. The concert continued with a rich variety of performances, consisting of Turkmen and Chinese folk and lyrical music. People’s Artist of Turkmenistan, bagshy Almagul Nazarova performed with powerful emotion the song “Daglara”, and the aria “Girls, Lift the Chest” from the opera “Shasenem and Garib”, accompanied by the orchestra.

Then, People’s Artist of Turkmenistan and esteemed instructor Atajan Berdiyew began with a heartfelt performance of the song “Mother” by Chinese composer Yao Chen, with lyrics by Ulykpan Zholdashov, dedicated to the friendship between the nations.

He then performed the romance “Girl”, composed by Nury Halmammedov to the words of Mollanepes. Gozel Annahanova followed with a performance of the Chinese folk song “Jasmine”, accompanied by the chamber orchestra.

After several vocal performances, the concert stage was filled with delightful music. The orchestra ensemble composed of students and instructors, led by Tahyr Atayev, skillfully performed “Scherzo” by composer Rovshen Nepesov and the Chinese folk melody “Guests from Afar”, leaving a strong impression on the audience.

In the final moments of the concert, ceremonial musical pieces were presented. Atajan Berdiyew and Gozel Annahanova masterfully performed the duets of “Ogulbeg and Danatar”, as well as “Aylar and Charyyar” from the opera “Kemine and the Judge”, composed collaboratively by Veli Muhadov and Adrian Shaposhnikov.

These performances had a powerful emotional impact on the audience and were met with resounding applause. Atageldi Garyagdyyev gave a brilliant rendition of Figaro's Aria by G. Rossini as a final solo, receiving a wave of enthusiastic applause. The concert concluded on a celebratory note with a joint performance by all participants of the song “Come to Turkmenistan”, composed by Veli Muhadov to the lyrics of Abaydy Lokgayev.

Kuwwat Yowbasarov
5th-year student of the Faculty of
Composition, Musicology, and Piano
Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory.